A fearless Dundee pensioner forced an armed robber to flee the store he was raiding.
Jean McGill, 70, stood up to Brian Millar, who repeatedly tried to hit her with a hammer as she protected the takings in the shop till.
Ms McGill – who was only working to cover a friend’s illness – pulled a hammer of her own as he tried to steal money for drugs.
Millar managed to grab a handful of notes before running from the scene, followed by the feisty pensioner who hurled her own hammer at him as he scarpered.
Solicitor Mike Short, defending, said: “I’m glad to say he’s totally ashamed of his behaviour.
“The footage supports the fact she is one very brave lady.
“He is fortunate that he came upon a Dundee lady who does not scare easily.
“It may be that this lady, who had to defend herself, will not have any long term problem but other people might do in this situation.
“He is fortunate that he met his match – and more.”
Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown said: “She certainly gave as good as she got.”
Hammer battle
Millar, 26, from Dundee, admitted assaulting Jean McGill at Forbes Newsagents in Clepington Road, on March 11 this year.
He admitted repeatedly trying to strike her with a hammer and stealing £200.
Fiscal depute Lynn Mannion told Dundee Sheriff Court: “Jean McGill is 70 and was assisting the operation of the store due to the owner being unwell.
“At 4.50am she was behind the till when the accused entered the store and immediately made his way to the till area.
“He had a hammer in his hand, which he was brandishing and he said ‘give me the money.’
“She said he would need to give her time to open the till.
“She reached for her own hammer under the till to try and scare off the accused.
“The accused made several attempts to strike her with his hammer.
“She tried to stop the accused and he swung the hammer towards her again which caused her to remove her arm away from the till.
“He ran out and she ran out and threw the hammer at him as he left.”
She contacted the police and they were able to track down Millar at his home a few hours later.
He was found to have £115 cash left and two hammers.
Crack addict
Mr Short said: “I’ve known him since he was a young man and this is way out of his normal behaviour.
“It certainly deserves a custodial sentence.
“He lost his dad seven years ago and last his mum last year.
“Before he lost his mum he was struggling.
“He went downhill, taking Valium and crack cocaine.
“If he didn’t have a drug addiction problem, I don’t think he would put the public in this dangerous position.
“He is not trying to blame anyone.
“His decision making was very poor.
“He is going to spend a lot of his life inside and out of prison.
“He should be ashamed.”
Sheriff Martin-Brown deferred sentence for the preparation of background reports and said: “Custody is still an option, given the nature of the offence.”
For the latest court cases across Tayside and Fife, join our Courts Facebook page.
